Table construction



. Oct. 15, 1963 J, c. LOCEK TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 13, 1962 rif ir INVENTOR. Joseph C. Locek' BY 01! United States Patent "ice 3,106,901 TABLE CONSTRUCTION Joseph C. Locek, 2724 N. Beulah Ave., River Grove, Ell. Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 244A59 6 Claims. (Cl. 108-110) This invention relates to tables as articles of furniture. More specifically it has reference to tables comprising a top and an under-shelf together with a plurality of legs having the dual function of supporting the table on the floor and spacing the top and shelf in a predetermined relation.

The invention has particular utility when the problem of fracture must be contended with, as where the top and shelf are of glass, marble or plastic composition. in the case of clear glass where the legs are exposed to view, the invention lends itself admirably to esthetic considerations. In other aspects it has utility in that it may be embodied in tables having three or more legs but varying in design, whether this latter resides in the peripheral contour of the top and shelf, in the spacing thereof in relation to each other and to the floor, in the ability to vary the number of shelves, and in its adaptability to virtually limitless variations in design. Additionally should the top or shelf become chipped, cracked or broken so that repair or replacement is necessary, an unskilled person may, simply by the use of his hands or a pliers, disassemble the table rapidly and, as easily, reassemble the same.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the ensuing description which, taken with the accompanying drawing, discloses certain preferred modes of embodying the invention in practice.

In this drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the leg and spacer assembly in relation to the top and shelf of the table; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a modification of that form of leg and spacer assembly shown in FIG. 2.

Regarded broadly the invention table comprises a top panel and a shelf panel of any desired outline together with a plurality of spacing assemblies intermediate the two panels and a like plurality of legs to support the table on the floor. The legs and spacers are aligned, each com prising a rigid, elongated core over which the spacing assemblies and legs are received. The ends of the core are threaded to receive means clamping the top and shelf panels, spacing assemblies and legs into a rigid whole. The spacing assemblies are desirably of decorative character and comprise one or more suitably axially-apertured elements received over the upper end of the core, together with decorative peripherally-flanged washers, i.e., shallow cup shape, to accept and conceal shock-absorbing annular discs of rubber or the like placed adjacent the glass or other frangible material of which the top and shelf are made. The washers are centrally apertured for a slip fit over the core and the diameter thereof inside the flange is selected to receive the ends of the decorative elements comprising the spacer. Since such elements may also be of frangible material the bore thereof is desirably larger than the core to obviate application of stress thereto. The legs are preferably metal tubes, suitably embellished exteriorly and tapered toward the foot to provide a pleasing aspect. The foot terminating the leg may be a ball or other shape having a cavity or groove to receive the lower extremity of the leg, and the same has a threaded hole for engagement with the core. The upper extremity of the core is also threaded to receive a decorative nut bearing on a cup-shaped washer as above described. By utilizing spacing elements and legs having uniform ends, one size of washer is adaptable to an almost infinite variety of overall designs.

3,106,901 Patented Oct. 15, 1963 Reverting to the drawing I have shown, by way of example (FIG. 1), a table incorporating the principles of the invention comprising a top panel 10 and a shelf 11. These are desirably transparent in order to allow for the display on the shelf of objects dart, books and the like and to reveal the inherent esthetic aspect of the spacing assemblies and legs. On occasion a customer may wish to have a shelf of so-called smoked glass or glass which is opaque or translucent. However the composition and appearance of the top and shelf are not parts of the invention per se. The top and shelf are of any desired peripheral configuration so that, in the case of an essentially triangular table, three legs may be used or, in the case of an L-shaped table, more than four legs may be required. Furthermore the table may vary in height. In general plate glass will be employed for the top and shelf although marble, wood, plastic or other materials are within contemplation.

The top and shelf panels are provided with a suitable plurality of apertures 15 (FIG. 2) somewhat larger than the core 16 to insure against contact between the core and the panels which, in the case of glass, could be readily fractured in moving the table. The core 16 is an elongated member, e.g. rod or pipe of adequate stiffness for the purpose, say /4 pipe, threaded at both ends. Upon the bottom of the core a suitable foot 18 is threadedly engaged. In exterior aspect the foot 18 may assume any desired form, e.g. spherical, surmounted by a cup-shaped boss 1? within the opening 21 whereof the lower extremity of a thin-walled, frusto-conical, hollow leg 23 is snugly received to align the foot and leg axially. Not only does a leg of shell-like construction materially reduce the weight of the table but also enables a great variety of exterior forms to be fabricated by an inexpensive spinning operation. However the legs may be other than frusto-conical or hollow, e.g. frusto-pyramidal and solid, except for the axial aperture therethrough. The legs may be other than metal, e. g. cast glass spools which, if desired, may be of translucent character to mask the core within.

At its upper end the leg 23 is received snugly within the flange 26 of one of several shallow cup-shaped washers 27, etc. comprising an essential feature of the invention, the washer having a central aperture 29 received over the core 16 with a slip fit whereby the upper end of the leg is rendered concentric and proof against lateral shifting. Between the washer 27 and panel 11 there is interposed one of several annular discs 31, etc. of rubber or felt to absorb stress which would otherwise be applied to the panel by the juxtaposition of a rigid part thereto.

On the opposite or upper face of the shelf 11 another disc 31a is located over the core 16 followed by another washer 27a of the character just detailed, with the flange directed upwardly. If desired the washer 27a may be inverted to receive the spacing element adjacent thereto and an additional washer (not shown) may be placed back to back with the washer 27a to conceal what would otherwise be the unesthetic appearance of the disc 31a. A single decorative spool or an arrangement of several is then placed over the core. In FIG. 1 there is illus trated a single tapered, tubular spacer 30, which may be the same as the leg 23, but inverted to receive snugly the lower end of the spacer. The same is surmounted by a washer 28 having a flange 32 fitting within the smaller, upper diameter of the spacer, the washer having a central aperture 33 providing a slip fit over the core 16 for reasons heretofore given. Above the top 10 there is located another washer 28a similar to the washer 28, but with the smaller flange upwardly and upon which an ornamental cap nut 38 having a knurled rim is caused to bear when the nut is tightened on the core 16. Resilient discs 39 are positioned against the top 10 and within the outer flange of the washers 28 and 28a. Thus it will have become apparent that the core 16 and the thereto-secured foot 13 and nut 38 will bind the entire assembly into rigid relationship, but one which is easily assembled and disassembled. The spacer may be other than of simple, tapered form for esthetic reasons and/ or may be superficially embellished.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a modified embodiment which has a leg and other parts below the shelf 11 similar to that described in respect of FIG. 2. In this case the spacer takes a different form comprising spools of glass or other material having any desired surface decoration, e.g. reeded, as shown. In the illustrated example two spools 41 and 42 are shown separated by washers 27b and 270, as before, placed back-to-back, the associated ends of the spools being dimensioned to fit snugly within the respective flanges thereof. A disc 31a and washer 28a are positioned adjacent the shelf 11 for purposes already stated. Another washer 27d is located at the upper end of the spool 42 and is followed by a resilient disc 31b. Since the spools each include a central bore 44 amply clearing the core 16, coaxiality is achieved by the washers 27a, 27b, 27c and 27d. If desired, additional washers (not shown) receiving the outer ends may be placed backto-back with the washers 27a and 27d to conceal the adjacent discs. It will be understood that the spools will be provided with short, essentially cylindrical ends to accommodate reliably the cup-shaped interior of the washers. Moreover it will be noted that these washers will have some pleasing finish, cg. polished or brushed brass.

Even though a table comprising a top and only one shelf has been described it will be understood that there may be a plurality of shelves, utilizing the same or different elements as components of the spacing means.

From the foregoing description it will have become apparent that the invention lends itself to incorporation with an almost limitless variety of practical embodiments in order to Oder a large area of choice to the purchaser seeking individuality in his or her acquisitions. Furthermore the invention lends itself to compactness, safety and economy in shipment as the leg assemblies may be packed separately, and the top and shelf panels far more easily protected from breakage than if the table were transported fully assembled. Assembly is so simple that a householder, having available only a diagram and a pair of pliers, may easily accomplish the task.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a top panel and a shelf panel therebelow and spaced therefrom, said panels each having a plurality of aligned, through apertures, a like plurality of elongated, rigid, vertical members threaded at each end passing through each associated pair of said apertures, the transverse extent of the member being less than the associated apertures, a foot threadedly engaged on the bottom end of each member, an axially-apertured leg position over each member intermediate the shelf panel and foot, an axially-apertured spacer positioned over each member intermediate the top and shelf panels, a nut threadedly engaged on the top end of each member to clamp the foot, leg and spacer into a rigid assembly, a stress-absorbing annular disk intermediate the nut and top panel, an inverted cup-shaped element positioned beneath the nut having a central hole to receive the member with a snug fit, the downwardly directed rim of the cup-shaped element surrounding the disk, the interior depth of the rim being less than the compressed thickness of the disk to preclude metal-to-panel contact between the rim and top panel.

2. A table comprising a top panel and a shelf panel therebelow and spaced therefrom, said panels each having a plurality of aligned, through apertures, a like pluradity of elongated, rigid, vertical members threaded at each end passing through each associated pair of said apertures, a foot threadedly engaged on the bottom end of each member, an axially-apcrtured leg positioned over each member intermediate the shelf panel and foot, an axially-apertured shell-like spacer positioned over each member intermediate the top and shelf panels, the transverse extent of the aperture in the spacers and legs being greater than the transverse extent of the associated members, a cup-shaped element at each end of the spacer and at the upper end of the leg, the rim of the cup snugly receiving the associated said end, said elements each having an axial opening snugly receiving the member whereby the space provided between the member and spacer or leg, as the case may be, is maintained.

3. A table comprising a top panel and a shelf panel therebelow and spaced therefrom, said panels each having a plurality of aligned, through apertures, a like plurality of elongated, rigid, vertical members threaded at each end passing through each associated pair of said apertures, a foot threadedly engaged on the bottom end of each member, an axially-apertured shell-like leg positioned over each member intermediate the shelf panel and foot, an axially-apertured shell-like spacer positioned over each member intermediate the top and shelf panels, the transverse cxtent of the aperture in the spacers and legs being greater than the transverse extent of the associated members, an element at each end of the spacer and at the upper end of the leg, said element comprising a disk portion larger in transverse extent than the exterior transverse extent of the associated end of the spacer or leg, as the case may be, and a plug portion coaxial with said disk portion snugly fitting the interior of the spacer or leg, the element having a through axial bore snugly receiving the member.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 further characterized in that a stress-absorbing washer is interposed between the panel and leg or spacer, as the case may be, and said element disk portion is provided with a peripheral rim extending oppositely to the plug portion to receive said washer to substantially conceal the same.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 3 further characterized in that a stress-absorbing washer is received over each member intermediate the end of the leg and the ends of the spacer adjacent the panel.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that the foot is provided with a recess snugly receiving the adjacent end of the leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 340,921 Newton Apr. 27, 1886 1,401,057 Elliott Dec. 20, 1921 1,431,823 Leconte Oct. 10, 1922 1,764,413 Nielson June 17, 1930 2,157,400 Cooper May 9, 1939 2,348,554 Mclnniss May 9, 1944 2,656,045 Curtis Oct. 20, 1953 

1. A TABLE COMPRISING A TOP PANEL AND A SHELF PANEL THEREBELOW AND SPACED THEREFROM, SAID PANELS EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED, THROUGH APERTURES, A LIKE PLURALITY OF ELONGATED, RIGID, VERTICAL MEMBERS THREADED AT EACH END PASSING THROUGH EACH ASSOCIATED PAIR OF SAID APERTURES, THE TRANSVERSE EXTENT OF THE MEMBER BEING LESS THAN THE ASSOCIATED APERTURES, A FOOT THREADEDLY ENGAGED ON THE BOTTOM END OF SAID EACH MEMBER, AN AXIALLY-APERTURED LEG POSITION OVER EACH MEMBER INTERMEDIATE THE SHELF PANEL AND FOOT, AN AXIALLY-APERTURED SPACER POSITIONED OVER EACH MEMBER INTERMEDIATE THE TOP AND SHELF PANELS, A NUT THREADEDLY ENGAGED ON THE TOP END OF EACH MEMBER TO CLAMP THE FOOT, LEG AND SPACER INTO A RIGID ASSEMBLY, A STRESS-ABSORBING ANNULAR DISK INTERMEDIATE THE NUT AND TOP PANEL, AN INVERTED CUP-SHAPED ELEMENT POSITIONED BENEATH THE NUT HAVING A CENTRAL HOLE TO RECEIVE THE MEMBER WITH A SNUG FIT, THE DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED RIM OF THE CUP-SHAPED ELEMENT SURROUNDING THE DISK, THE INTERIOR DEPTH OF THE RIM BEING LESS THAN THE COMPRESSED THICKNESS OF THE DISK TO PRECLUDE METAL-TO-PANEL CONTACT BETWEEN THE RIM AND TOP PANEL. 